Metallic door or panel construction



00%. 10, 1933. F. J. MATCHETTE METALLIC DQOR OR PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 8, 1936 Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METALLIC noon on PANEL CONSTRUCTION Frank J. Matchette, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Servidor Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November 8, 1930. Serial No. 494,287

15 Claims.

This invention relates to metallic door or panel constructions.

possess maximum strength and durability combined with lightness.

Briefly, I have found that by constructing a door or panel of metallic plates suitably reinforced and stiffened in accordance with my invention, I am enabled to make the plates of relatively thin metal and yet produce a door or panel structure of great strength and durability, and one which can be finished properly to have the required neatness in appearance. I accomplish this by taking two comparatively thin sheets of metal, providing one of said sheets with reinforcing elements formed integrally therewith and extending along the vertical edges thereof, and providing the other of said sheets with reinforcing elements formed integrally therewith and extending transversely thereof, the two sheets being then assembled'as by telescoping and secured together in a suitable manner, asby spot-welding at their reinforced portions. Other objects and advantages of my in vention will appear fromthe following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of an assembled door or panel structure of the flat type, the inner panel being partly broken away to show the outer panel;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of an inner panel for use in a flat type of door or panel structure;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 4-4 of Figure 1; c

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the outer panel for use in a bulged or arched type of door or panel structure;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 5; I

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of an assembled door or panel structure of the bulged or arched type;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along'the line 8-8 of Figure 7; and

Figure'9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9' of Figure '7.

Referring more specifically to the drawing:

In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, I havev illustrated flat panels, as distinguished from those panels of arched or bulged shape, adaptable for use in door or panel construction. In constructing the door or panel, two fiat rectangular panels 1 and 2 of comparatively thin sheet metal are first cut to proper dimensions. marginal portions of the panel 1 are then bent to form channel elements 3 and 4 which extend the entire height of the panel 1. These channel elements are adapted to receive the panel 2,

in a manner hereinafter described, and form reinforcing elements which impart rigidity to the panel 1 lengthwise thereof. That is to say, the channel elements 3 and 4 serve to stiifen the main body portion of the panel; 1 lengthwise thereof and thus prevent anydistortion or bowing of such paneltransversely thereof. The panel 2, which has been cut to such dimensions that it will slip into the channel elements 3 and 4 of panel 1, has a plurality of substantially U-shaped channel elements 5 formed therein and disposed transversely thereof. These reinforcing elements 5 serve to stiffen the panel transversely thereof and to prevent any bowing or distorting of the panel lengthwise. Also, it

is to be noted that the reinforcing elements 5 are of such depth that they will contact with the main body portion of the panel 1 when said panel 2 is slipped into the channel elements 3 and 4.

To assemble the panel or door, the panel 2 gether in a suitable manner, as by spot-welding and as indicated at 6. Flanges '7 formed at the top and bottom portions of the panel 2 are spotwelded to the panel 1, as at 8, and serve to close the space between the panels, thus preventing the entry of any foreign substances therebetween.

The reinforcing elements of the panels are formed crosswise of the grain of the metal as I find from experience that the panels can thus be bent or folded back with greater ease and without danger of the metal breaking orcracking at the bend. That is to say, the inner panel of the completed door or panel structure will have the grain of the metal running lengthwise of said panel, as indicated at 9, with the reinm forcing elements extending transversely thereof, and the outer panel will have the grain of the metal running transversely of the panel, as indicated at 10, and the reinforcing elements extending lengthwise thereof. Such a construc- The vertical 60 ticn also permits the use of harder metals, which possess greater stiffness and greater resistance to impact and bending than would otherwise be possible. It will be apparent that by reason of one of the panels being reinforced or stillened lengthwise and the other of said panels being reinforced or stiffened crosswise, the door or panel structure as a whole possesses considerable strength and rigidity and will effectively resist bowing in either a longitudinal or transverse direction.

In Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, I have illustrated panels adaptable for use in a door or panel construction of the bulged or arched type. In constructing the door or panel, two panels 11 and 12 are first cut to proper dimensions, panel 11 being flat and panel'12 being transversely arched or bulged as shown. The lateral marginal portions of the panel 11 are then bent back upon the main body portion of said panel to form U-shaped channel elements 13 and 14, which extend the entire height of said panel, and the inner portions of said elements are then bent again to form flanges 15 and 16. The channel elements 13 and 14 serve to reinforce and stiffen the panel 11 in the same manner as has heretofore been described in connection with the channel elements 3 and 4 of panel 1. The construction of the panel 12 is similar to that of panel 2, as illustrated in Figure 3, in that it of proper dimensions to slide under the flanges 15 and 16 of panel 11, and also, in that it has a plurality of substantially U-shaped reinforcing channel elements 17 pressed into the main body portion thereof and extending in parallel relation transversely of said panel. These channel elements have the same function as the reinforcing members 5 of panel 2. In assembling i the door or panel structure, the panel 12 is 40 inserted under the flanges 15 and. 16 of panel 11, which is simultaneously bowed transversely to conform to the bowing of panel 12, and the panels are then secured together by spot-welding, as indicated at 18. By giving proper shape to the inner panel,during the process'of forming the channel or reinforcing elements therein, the desired curvature maybe imparted to the outer panel in assembling the structure. For example,

- assuming that the inner panel 12 has been given a predetermined curvature, such as is shown in Figure 9, during the formation of the channel or reinforcing elements therein, then, by inserting said panel under the flanges 15 and 16 of the flat panel 11, shown in Figure 6, such panel 11 will have the curvature of the panel 12 imparted to it due to the fact that the panel 11 is not rigid transversely thereof. Spot-welding the panels together at their reinforced portions assures that the completed door or panel structure will retain such shape.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown and described. I

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising, superposedsheet metal panels, reinforcing elements formed on one of said panels and extending transversely thereof, and reinforcing elements formed on the other of said panels and extending lengthwise thereof, thereinforcing elements of one panel spacing said panel from the other panel and being. engaged and confined within the reinforcing elements of the other panel, said panels being secured together at their reinforced portionsto provide a rigid and unitary structure.

2. A device of the class described comprising, superposed sheet metal panels, and reinforcing elements formed integrally with the respective panels, all of said reinforcing elements extending transversely of the grain of the respective panels and said panels being assembled together.

3. A device of the classdescribed comprising, two superposed sheet metal panels, reinforcing elements formed on one of said panels and extending transversely only of the grain thereof, reinforcing elements formed on the other of said paneis and extending transversely only of the grain thereof, said panels being secured together and the reinforcing elements of one panel extending at right angles to the reinforcing elements of the other panel.

4. In a structure of the character described, a sheet metal panel of substantially rectangular shape and provided with opposed channel elements extending along two opposite edges thereof, and a second sheet metal panel having two of its edge portions fitting in said channel elements, said second panel being provided with reinforcing channel elements disposed in angular relation to and fitting within the channel elements of the first panel.

5. In a structure of the character described, a sheet metal panel of rectangular shape and provided at each lateral edge with an inwardly directed channel element extending lengthwise of the panel, and a second sheet metal panel provided with channel elements, extending the full width thereof, said panels being assembled together in superposed relation and the lateral portions of said second panel fitting snugly into the channel elements of the first panel.

6. The method of forming a device of the class described which comprises, providing two panels of proper dimensions, forming a plurality of reinforcing elements in each of said panels and transversely only of the grain of each of said panels, and assembling and securing said panels together in superposed relation and with the reinforcing elements of the one panel disposed in angular relation to the reinforcing elements of the other panel. v

,7. The method of forming a device of the class described which comprises, providing two panels of proper dimensions, pressing a plurality of reinforcing elements into one of said panels and simultaneously imparting a predetermined transverse curvature to said panel, forming a plurality of reinforcing elements in the other panel, and assembling and securing said panels together whereby the curvature of the one panel "is imparted to the other of said panels.

8. The method of producing a structure of the character described,which consists in, providing a flat sheet metal panel of rectangular shape and provided along its lateral edges with inwardly diarched lengthwise whereby said second'panel is correspondingly arched transversely, inserting the second panel into the first panel with the lateral portions of said second panel fitting into the channel elements of said first panel whereby the first panel is shaped about the second panel and arched transversely to conform to the transverse curvature thereof, and then securing said panels together. v

9. In a structure of the character described, a sheet metal panel provided with inwardly 'directed channel elements along two of its opposite edges, and a second panel inserted endwise into the channel elements of said first panel and provided with reinforcing elements extending the full width thereof, the reinforcing elements of said second panel contacting the inner surface of said first panel for holding said second panel spaced therefrom and against the inner surface of the channel elements on said first panel, said panels being secured together to form a rigid and unitary structure.

10. In a structure of the character described, a sheet metal panel provided with inwardly directed channel elements along two of its opposite edges, a second panel inserted endwise into the channel elements of said first panel, and provided with reinforcing elements extending the full Width thereof, the reinforcing elements of said second panel contacting the inner surface of said first panel for holding said second panel spaced therefrom and against the inner surface of the channel elements on said first panel, and means formed on said second panel and contacting said first panel for closing the space therebetween.

11. In a structure of the character described, a sheet metal panel provided at each lateral edge with an inwardly directed channel element extending lengthwise of the panel, a second sheet metal panel insertable endwise into the channel elements of said first panel and provided with reinforcing elements extending the full width thereof, the reinforcing elements of said second panel contacting the inner surface of said first panel for holding said second panel spaced there from and against the inner surface ofithe channel elements on said first panel, the reinforcing elements adjacent the upper and lower ends of said second panel being of substantially Z shape and serving to reinforce said second panel and f to close the space between said panels.

12. In a structure of the character described, an outer sheet metal panel provided at each side thereof with an inwardly opening channel element, and an inner sheet metal panel insertable endwise into the channel elements of the outer panel and confined at its lateral portions between the outer panel and the inner flanges of said channel elements, the inner panel being provided at each end thereof with a flange disposed substantially at right angles to the panel and closing the space between the panels at the ends thereof, said flanges spacing the inner panel from the outer panel and bracing the structure against transverse bending stresses.

13. A structure of the character described comprising a sheet metal panel provided with reinforcing elements formed integrally therewith, and a second sheet metal panel entirely within the plane of the reinforcing elements of said first panel and provided with reinforcing elements formed integrally therewith, the reinforcing elements of said first panel extending in angular relation to the reinforcing elements of the second panel.

14. A structure of the character described comprising a sheet metal panel provided with reinforcing elements formed integrally therewith, and a second sheet metal panel insertable endwise into the reinforcing elements of said first panel and provided with integral reinforcing elements, the reinforcing elements of said first panel extending in angular relation to the reinforcing elements of said second panel and said panels being secured together at their reinforced portions to provide a rigid and unitary structure.

15. A structure of the character described comprising a sheet metal panel provided with reinforcing elements formed integrally therewith and extending lengthwise thereof, and a second sheet metal panel insertable endwise into the reinforcing elements of said first panel and provided with integral reinforcing elements extending transversely thereof, said panels being secured together at their reinforced portions to provide a rigid and unitary structure.

FRANK J. MATCHETTE. 

